Mum was drunk and high on cocaine during 110mph police chase

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE mum-oftwo was high on drugs and twice the drink-drive limit when she was finally caught by police after a highspeed pursuit.

Charlotte North, of Upper Mexborough Road, Selston, took officers on a dangerous chase on the A38, crossing the boundary of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

During her hearing at Derby Crown Court, it was heard the 29-year-old reached 110mph, causing her car to bounce off the ground as she went over speed bumps.

North had been trying to flee officers during the 37-minute pursuit when she twice mounted the pavement, dangerously overtook queues of traffic, jumped at least one red light and went the wrong way round a roundabout, the court heard.

After finally pulling into a car park of a pub near Ashbourne, she rammed into one of the police vehicles head-on and reversed into another.

She must now wait for the judge to decide whether she will receive a prison sentence as the case was adjourned in order for the judge to learn more about the offender.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: “Miss North, the way you drove on that day could easily have killed somebody including yourself.

“You can have absolutely no complaints if I send you to custody and that might still be the case as I haven’t made my mind up what to do with you yet.

“But it is only fair to you that all of the information is there for me at the next hearing.

“I will require an update from social services about whether there is any alternative care arrangements for your children should you receive a custodial sentence.”

Lucky Thandi, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court, said the offence began shortly before 10pm on September 7, 2019.

She said police had followed the Ford due to the erratic way it was being driven.

Miss Thandi said North initially stopped the vehicle and mounted a pavement but then sped off when one of the police officers got out of the car.

She said: “The defendant drove at excessive speed over bumps that the car was described as ‘bouncing.’

“She went the wrong way round a roundabout and sped at 90mph towards the M1 before going over on to the A38 heading towards Derby. On the A38 she was captured driving at 110mph. As she was now over the border Nottinghamshire Police were joined by Derbyshire Police.”

Miss Thandi said North left the A38 and drove through a number of villages until she pulled into the car park of a pub in Edlaston Lane, near Yeaveley.

Once there she rammed a police car as she tried to leave.

And when she was arrested and tested she blew twice the drink-drive limit and was over the limit for driving with cocaine. North pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while uninsured, drink-driving, drug-driving and criminal damage. David Outterside, mitigating, said his client has children aged seven and five and had worked as a team leader at a local Tesco store. He said: “The poor choices Charlotte North was making at this time were all linked to her drug abuse. “She is now completely drug free.”

The way you drove on that day could easily have killed somebody including yourself

Judge Nirmal Shant QC